Health Care Administration
Undergraduate Certificate Online Program

The undergraduate certificate program in Health Care Administration aims to equip students with the basic knowledge necessary for success in the health care industry. Students will be given an overview of the nation’s health care system, gain awareness of the social and political influences on today’s perception of health and illness, and develop a general understanding of the laws and ethics involved in the health care field.

Designed For You

The California Coast University online Undergraduate Certificate in Health Care Administration program was designed for complete flexibility for the student. All courses are self-paced and completed 100% online.

View Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

[READ MORE]

Explore The Program

The Undergraduate Certificate in Health Care Administration consists of 4 total courses.
The required courses are comprised of: 4  Core Courses .
There are 12 total semester units in this program.

4 Core Courses

The online Undergraduate Certificate in Health Care Administration is comprised of the following 4 courses. Click on course title to expand and read more.

[CLOSE]
ID Course Name Units
HCA 200 The United States Health Care System  3

The United States Health Care System course is designed to introduce students to the organization, structure, and operation of the nation’s health care system. This course aims to help students effectively identify their present and future roles as consumer, provider, manager, decision- maker, and analyst. The class examines an overview of the health care system, causes and characteristics of health service utilization, the nature of wellness and disease, individual provider settings, financial and nonfinancial resources used and needed, and measurement of quality of care.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define health and healthcare, key terminology, and analyze the role and process of healthcare in America.
  • Describe aspects of employment in healthcare delivery including key personnel and required education and training.
  • Examine the various delivery systems in healthcare and discuss related legal, ethical, and political issues.
  • Analyze issues in the healthcare industry regarding research, cultural competency, and international applications.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the United States healthcare system.
HCA 320 Essentials of Managed Health Care  3

Essentials of Managed Health Care focuses on health insurance as it impacts the management of healthcare organizations. This course provides a systematic overview of the history of managed healthcare and health insurance in the United States, types of health plans and available payers, the provider network, utilization management, quality management, accreditation, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and laws and regulations in health insurance and managed care.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Discuss the major forces shaping health insurance and managed care today.
  • Examine the basic elements of health benefits coverage and provider payment options.
  • Describe the basic components of utilization management for medical services.
  • Explain the Medicare and Medicaid benefit structures.
  • Identify key state and federal laws and regulations governing managed care.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the essentials of managed care.
HCA 340 Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness  3

Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness promotes an awareness of the dimensions and complexities involved in interactions between health professionals and patients from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. It examines different cultural perspectives regarding health, illness and health care that exists within American society by demonstrating traditional health beliefs and practices among selected populations. Emphasis is placed on the importance of having culturally competent health care professionals to better serve an increasingly diverse population.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define and describe the importance of cultural and linguistic competence in healthcare.
  • Examine the various health domains including health, healing, and familial traditions.
  • Analyze trends in healthcare and describe current issues and barriers to healthcare.
  • Discuss health care problems in various demographic groups.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to cultural diversity in health and illness.
HCA 420 Medical Law and Ethics  3

Medical Law and Ethics explores the study of medical ethics, or applied ethics, for healthcare professionals who often face dilemmas that are not experienced by the general population. The fast-paced growth of medical technology has made the study of ethics even more relevant. The study of bioethics, or biomedical ethics, refers to moral dilemmas due to advances in medicine and medical research. Since medical law and ethics are often interrelated, students need to have a clear understanding of both in order to protect themselves, their employer, and the patient. The study of ethics includes many questions for which there is no one answer.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Define medical law, ethics, and bioethics and examine why it is important to study them.
  • Examine the legal environment of healthcare including the legal and court systems and essential laws for healthcare professionals.
  • Describe issues related to the healthcare environment regarding liability, confidentiality, and the physician-patient relationship.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of medical ethics and describe future trends in healthcare.
  • Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to medical law and ethics.

Prerequisites to Admission:

The applicant should meet the following prerequisites in order to be admitted to the program: An applicant must be at least 18 years of age and have successfully obtained a high school diploma, GED, or its equivalent.

FAQ About Coursework

Required units may be satisfied in the following ways: